Summary
There is still a need to prove that even static magnetic fields up to 1.5 T used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are biologically safe and harmless for humans. Recordings of median and ulnar nerves and brain-stem auditory evoked potentials in 20 patients were completed prior to and after MRI investigation of the central nervous system. Neither the somatosensory nor the auditory evoked potentials exhibited any significant change of latencies, interpeak latencies or amplitudes. Since these electrophysiological parameters are highly dependent on the quality of nerve conduction and integrity of information processing in various nuclei, it may be assumed that MRI causes no lasting changes in either respect.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adair ER, Berglund LG (1986) On the thermoregulatory consequences of NMR imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 4:321–333
Bartels M, Mann K, Matejek M, Puttkammer M, Schroth G (1986) Magnetresonanztomographie und Sicherheit. ROFO 145:383–385
Besson J, Foreman EI, Eastwood LM, Smith FW, Ashcroft GW (1984) Cognitive evaluation following NMR imaging of the brain. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 47:314–316
Budinger TF (1981) Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in vivo studies. Known thresholds for health effects. J comput Assist Tomogr 5:800–811
Budinger TF, Lauterbur PC (1984) Nuclear magnetic resonance. Technology for medical studies. Science 226:288–298
Buettner UW, Stöhr M, Koletzki E (1983) Brainstem auditory evoked potential abnormalities in vascular malformations of the posterior fossa. J Neurol 229:247–254
Bundesgesundheitsamt (1984) Empfehlungen zur Vermeidung gesundheitlicher Risiken verursacht durch magnetische und hochfrequente elektromagnetische Felder bei der NMR-Tomographie und In-vivo-NMR-Spektroskopie. Bundesgesundheitsblatt 27:92–96
Hacke W, Stöhr M, Diener HCW, Buettner U (1985) Empfehlung zur Untersuchungsmethodik evozierter Potentiale in der Routinediagnostik. Z EEG-EMG 16:162–164
Klitzing L von (1986) Latenzverschiebungen der frühen akustisch evozierten Potentiale beim Menschen durch statische Magnetfelder. In: Nüsslin F, Windhausen H (eds) NMR in der Medizin. Urban and Schwarzenberg, Munich, pp 199–210
McRobbie D, Foster MA (1984) Thresholds for biological effects of time-varying magnetic fields. Clin Phys Physiol Meas 5:67–78
National Radiological Protection Board Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Clinical Imaging (1983) Revised guedance on acceptable limits of exposure during nuclear magnetic resonance clinical imaging. Br J Radiol 56:974–977
Sperber D, Oldenbourg R, Dransfeld K (1984) Magnetic field induced temperature change in mice. Naturwissenschaften 71:100–101
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Niemann, G., Schroth, G., Klose, U. et al. Influence of magnetic resonance imaging on somatosensory and brain-stem auditory evoked potentials in man. J Neurol 235, 462–465 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314248
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314248